Asked gender and pronouns on antenatal form

[bbypinkluffie]

So I’m 7 weeks today with my first, and yesterday I got given a midwife, and my first antenatal appointment was booked, and was told I had to fill this form out before the appointment, it had an entire section where the questions were “is the gender you were assigned at birth the gender you identify as now?” And “what gender do you identify as?” And “what are your pronouns?” I didn’t want to participate in their questions, as I don’t agree with gender ideology, I don’t want to have to “declare” myself a woman, I am one. I don’t want to “identify” as a woman, I am one. I’m pregnant for heavens sake! But regardless I filled out the entire gender section, saying yes I identify with my assigned gender at birth, I identify as female and my pronouns I chose as she/her. I only did this to avoid being asked during the appointment as it’s my first appointment and my first pregnancy and I don’t want it being ruined by being asked about pronouns. I only pray now I’ve jumped through their hoops I won’t be called a “pregnant person” or “birthing person” or “chest feeder” now. For heavens sake!

I agree with this in principle but the form was assuming op has a gender identity and that she agreed that some genders match each sex, and which genders match female - none of which might apply.

They need to ask questions that don't make these assumptions and that make it clear what they are asking and how you would find out.

I'm glad you brought that up. What does inclusivity mean?

Those manipulative questions are all about coercing us all into the gender belief system. Is that what inclusivity means? Coercion and manipulation? That's why it's a problem.

But this is entirely symptomatic of the whole fuckery of gender ID and it is being shoved down our throats, especially in situations such as this where it may be not only utterly inappropriate but a 'last straw' moment.
We are absolutely within our rights to draw a line, protest and complain as loudly as we want, or need to.
And it's not for anyone else to try to demean us by use of emotive phrases like 'dramatic language' or to minimise our feelings in any way.

The first question should be “is your gender identity different from your sex?” and if you answer 'no' you should be able to move on to the next section. There's no good reason to make it so complicated or force everyone to fill in a section that doesn't apply to them.

That doesnt work if you don't have a gender identity, or don't know if how you describe your gender is the same thing as 'female'.

Maybe "do you consider yourself to have a gender identity? " if Yes, what is it?

That's not going to get a useful answer from a transman though TheInebriati.

They will answer no.

If I was asked I would say yes, because gender identity whatever it actually is, is different to my sex.

This is the ONS mess in a nutshell, the actual preferred language of identity can't accommodate all the permutations that people will come up with in a coherent way.

OK then split the leading question into two or word it differently; the point remains the same.
Most of us don't object to sex based plain English being used, especially around sex based issues such as childbirth. So erasing the language we use is not inclusion as it excludes us. There's no need to make us fill; out a whole section on gender identity, it should be possible to skip it.

How is all of this gender stuff impacting on your work? Is it impeding your ability to care for patients? It sounds difficult, to me.

It seems to me that the very tiny number of gender confused mothers are making life hard for the many many women and NHS staff members.

You're being ridiculous.

I do not find it rude at all. If there is confusion for them, it is clearly not as clear cut as biological fact. Where else would you work through confusion but in therapy? There are therapists who specialise in this area. Their existence demonstrates the fact that for many, it is not a biological fact. It is great that you have no confusion, but it is a fact that many do. You can see it how you like, but you cannot tell others what their experience is.

Dismissive, sneering, shaming, whataboutery.

We are responding to the OP's post. What use are your comments, here? Other than trying to stick the boot in?

you cannot tell others what their experience is.

Right. So you can't tell the OP she's being 'dramatic' or 'ridiculous', either.

It is giving people the basic respect of addressing them how they wish. Mist of this thread is just more anti trans bigotry.

Nope. It's women asserting their rights as equal to those of trans people.

I am responding to the post. My comments are useful because op needs to catch a grip.

“When you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression."

You could say that about all those women who demand to be referred to as men whilst being pregnant though couldn’t you? Maybe they need to catch a grip and realise you can’t “live as a man” if you’re pregnant.

What OP needs is woman-centred care from her HCPs. That means support, compassion, and understanding. Not hectoring instructions in arcane ideology that is irrelevant to 99% of the population.

Pronouns are not just used in absence at all. They are also used when someone is there. Lots of times I was referred to as "mum" while pregnant.

And the baby is part of the picture, but the health of the mother, or father, parent, or however they want to be addressed is a massive part of antenatal care. Physical and mental health.

There are tons of people who post on here claiming it's obvious and straightforward and perfectly clear what the question "what is your gender identity?" means. But when you ask them they either don't know, refuse to answer, or - and this is a new one - suggest that the only way to find out is to get a therapist.

So I might venture to claim that if you need a therapist to answer a question, it's not actually straightforward.

snugglemonkey I assume you couldn't tell me how I find out whether I have a gender identity, then? What do you think it means? Something to do with male or female biological sex, or something entirely separate?

Noone is taking women's rights in this instance.

Who is being included? Not 99% of women. Last year When I was due to have an internal exam I disclosed I had been a victim of sexual abuse when I was a child and asked if the person performing the exam would be female. They cited their pronouns. Who is this including?

Inclusivity would be having the gender ID questions in addition to the rest of the form, as an option for people that need them.

Forcing women to answer irrelevant questions about their gender dysphoria when they don't have it is not being inclusive.

Pretty much zero impact. We’ve had the occasional service user who visually looks male and obvious isn’t. Just have to remember not to call them mum, etc

Absolutely daft. If you're carrying a human life, you're a woman.